17 Wisconsin The Badgers have long relied on the run; now they will ride the arm of their quarterback

Junior quarterback Brooks Bollinger is quick to point out thatmajor league baseball's infatuation with strong-armed Big Tenpassers extends beyond Ann Arbor. No, he may not be a $17-millionbonus baby like Michigan's Drew Henson, who in March signed asix-year deal to play third base for the Yankees, but Bollingerwas a 50th-round draft choice of the Dodgers in 2000. "I don'tthink they're going to offer me $17 million like Drew got,"Bollinger, a shortstop, says. "Right now, I'm devoted tofootball."

That's good news for coach Barry Alvarez, who has good depth atquarterback with Bollinger (17-3 as a starter) and sophomorebackup Jim Sorgi. Still, after losing 12 starters, plus twokickers, questions dog the team at nearly every other position,particularly running back. As if losing leading rusher MichaelBennett to the NFL wasn't enough of a blow, Wisconsin was dealt abig setback in the spring when sophomore Broderick Williams, whowas supposed to become the starter, suffered a season-ending tornACL in his left knee. Ready or not, redshirt freshmen AnthonyDavis, Tyron Griffin and Jerone Pettus will have to makeimmediate contributions, which means Wisconsin's streak of eightseasons with a 1,000-yard running back is in peril.

The days of relying solely on the rushing game may be a thing ofthe past in Madison anyway. After watching Northwestern ride itsmultiple-wideout formations to a share of the Big Ten title lastfall--and knowing his line is callow--Alvarez installed thespread offense. Though the spread will add spice to Wisconsin'sgame, the Badgers won't be a power in the conference unless theyplug a leaky defense that permitted too many big plays lastseason. The unit will have six new starters, but considering itsperformance last year, that may be a plus.

During the off-season the 54-year-old Alvarez flirted with thevacant coaching job at Miami before taking himself out of therunning. He then vowed to finish his career at Wisconsin andsigned a new deal in the spring that extends his contract through2006. "I was more serious about the Miami job than any job I'vetalked about before," Alvarez says. "But there are still somethings I want to accomplish here."

--R.D.

COLOR PHOTO: HARRY HOW/ALLSPORT Bollinger, a former shortstop, was drafted by the Dodgers, but he's taking a pass on baseball.

67Consecutive seasons Wisconsin has played Northwestern, a streakthat comes to an end this year.

ENEMY LINESAn opposing team's coach sizes up the Badgers

"Quarterback Brooks Bollinger scares me as a runner; the guy canreally move on the perimeter. He's a good enough thrower, butWisconsin hasn't tried to throw much....I keep hearing they wantto spread it out. Is that four receivers? Three? I anticipatethey'll spread out to get athlete on athlete and let Bollingerrun....[Defensive coordinator] Kevin Cosgrove does a good job.The team is very sound....Mike Echols is a good corner."